Ambition Harvested These Talents
Jordin Sparks. Max Crumm. Lauren Gottlieb. What instilled the ambition in them? What drives them toward fame and fortune? Do they eat their Wheaties? Do they abstain from sweets before dinner? These are all possibilities. But the hard fact is that all three were raised under the hot Arizona sun, which lends the appearance of talent emerging from this great state. Who are these people, and what does Arizona have to do with their becoming icons of popular culture? Perhaps upon further investigation, the secrets of this phenomenon may be revealed.
Jordin Sparks
Before she was named the youngest winner of the American Idol competition (at the young age of seventeen,) Jordin Sparks had already created an impressive résumé. She was a finalist on Star Search; America’s Most Talented Kid, and was named “Arizona’s Rising Star” by Coca-Cola. At age thirteen, Jordin had the privilege to sing the National Anthem at an ASU football game, an opportunity rarely offered to someone that age. By the winter of 2003, she had recorded her first EP. In 2006, Jordin’s parents, realizing her talent, decided to pull her out of Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Glendale, Arizona. After that, she was home schooled so she could concentrate on her singing. In September of 2006, Jordin was awarded the title of Arizona Idol and a free trip to the American Idol auditions in Seattle. After making it through the preliminary Hollywood rounds, Jordin was on her road to incredible success and worldwide recognition.
Max Crum
Twenty-one year old Max Crumm has been working on polishing his acting skills for the last seventeen years. While attending school at Altadena Middle School and then at Desert Vista High School in Ahatukee, Max spent his free time acting in plays and musicals. He performed with Desert Stages, Valley Youth Theater, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His time and efforts have paid off. His most recent achievement was winning the role of “Danny” on the reality TV show Grease: You’re The One That I Want.
Misha Gottlieb
Lauren "Misha" Gottlieb attained fame as a top 20 finalist on the third season of Fox network's reality television series, So You Think You Can Dance. Her talent is a combination of several dance styles, including hip-hop, tap, lyrical, jazz, and ballet. Since the age of seven, Lauren has consistently taken lessons, at studios across the state.
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